Masking Tool

• US 20090324133A1
• Filed: 08/25/2009
• Published: 12/31/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Edwards, Eric, Fisher, Clay Harvey, Jonach, Kurt, Manowitz, Neal Jacob, Tree, John
• Granted Patent: US 7,961,978 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/283
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/00 2D [Two Dimensional] image generation
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 3/4092 Image resolution transcoding, e.g. by using client-server architectures
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 5/00 Image enhancement or restoration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00244 with a server, e.g. an internet server fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00392 Other manual input means, e.g. digitisers or writing tablets
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00424 using a list of graphical elements, e.g. icons or icon bar
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0044 for image preview or review, e.g. to help the user position a sheet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/3872 Repositioning or masking
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/001 Sharing resources, e.g. processing power or memory, with a connected apparatus or enhancing the capability of the still picture apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/635 Region indicators; Field of view indicators
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/64 Computer-aided capture of images, e.g. transfer from script file into camera, check of taken image quality, advice or proposal for image composition or decision on when to take image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/815 for controlling the resolution by using a single image

Abstract

A system for controlling effects performed on an image includes a digital camera having a display that displays the image. A masking tool positions a graphical representation on the display, the graphical representation defining a portion of the image that is altered when the effects are applied to the image. The masking tool is positioned over a masked portion of an image and an effect is applied. The effect is applied on the image inside the masked portion.

Claims

1. A system for controlling effects performed on an image, comprising:

a digital camera having a display that displays the image; and

a masking tool to position a graphical representation on the display, the graphical representation defining a portion of the image that is altered when the effects are applied to the image.

2. The system according to claim 1 further comprising a server implemented with a software that, when executed, performs masking according to the graphical representation on the display and then application of the effects on the image.

3. The system according to claim 1 further comprising a server to store a software application downloaded by the digital camera to perform masking and application of the effects to the image.

4. The system according to claim 1 wherein the masking tool is further to select the shape of the graphical representation on the display by selecting from a menu displayed on the display.

5. The system according to claim 1 wherein the graphical representation is created by tracing a pattern over at least a portion of the display using a stylus.

6. The system according to claim 1 wherein an area inside the graphical representation is altered when the effects are applied to the image.

7. The system according to claim 1 wherein an area outside the graphical representation is altered when the effects are applied to the image.

8. The system according to claim 1 wherein masking tool is further to adjust the size of the graphical representation on the display.

9. The system according to claim 1 wherein the graphical representation applies the effect by interactively moving the mask tool simultaneously while applying the effect.

10. A method of masking comprising:

selecting a masking tool based on operations performed on a digital camera;

positioning the masking tool over a masked portion of an image; and

applying an effect onto the image inside the masked portion.

11. The method according to claim 10 wherein the selecting of the masking tool includes selecting from a menu displayed on a display of the digital camera.

12. The method according to claim 11 wherein the menu lists textual descriptions of a plurality of masking tool types.

13. The method according to claim 11 wherein the menu illustrates images of a plurality of masking tool types.

14. The method according to claim 10 wherein the masking tool is translucent.

15. The method according to claim 10 wherein the applying the effect includes applying the effect by interactively moving the mask tool simultaneously while applying the effect.

16. A system comprising:

a server; and

a client in communication with the server, the client being adapted to edit an image stored on the server by controlling a position of a graphical representation on a display that displays the image, the masking tool defining a portion of the image to be altered when an effect is applied to the image.

17. The system according to claim 16 further comprising a server implemented with a software that, when executed, performs masking and application of the effect on the image.

18. The system according to claim 16 wherein the client is further adapted to apply the effect by interactively moving the mask tool simultaneously while applying the effect.